Trigonometry is the study and solution of Triangles. Solving a triangle means finding the value of each of its sides and angles. The following terminology and tactics will be important in the solving of triangles.
Pythagorean Theorem (a2+b2=c2).
Only for right angle triangles
A trigonometric function is a ratio of certain parts of a triangle. The names of these ratios are: The sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, cotangent. Let us look at this triangle Given the assigned letters to the sides and angles, we can determine the following trigonometric functions.
B a
c C b
The Cosecant is the inversion of the sine, the secant is the inversion of the cosine, the cotangent is the A inversion of the tangent. With this, we can find the sine of the value of angle A by dividing side a by side c. In order to find the angle itself, we must take the sine of the angle and invert it (in other words, find the cosecant of the sine of the angle).
Side Opposite Hypothenuse Side Adjacent Cos = Hypothenuse Side Opposite Tan = Side Adjacent
Sin=
=
= =
a c b c a b
Try finding the angles of the following triangle from the side lengths using the trigonometric ratios from the previous slide. B 6 C B 2 C 8 Click for the Answer 10 A
The first step is to use the trigonometric functions on angle A. Sin =6/10 Sin =0.6 Csc0.6~36.9 Angle A~36.9 Because all angles add up to 180, B=90-11.537=53.1
34
0.559BA=2
BA=2/0.559 BA~3.578
AC=8.8020.5~3
When solving oblique triangles, simply using trigonometric functions is not enough. You need The Law of Sines
B c a C b It is useful to memorize these laws. They can be used to solve any triangle if enough measurements are given. A
c2=a2+b2-2ab cosC
When solving a triangle, you must remember to choose the correct law to solve it with. Whenever possible, the law of sines should be used. Remember that at least one angle measurement must be given in order to use the law of sines. The law of cosines in much more difficult and time consuming method than the law of sines and is harder to memorize. This law, however, is the only way to solve a triangle in which all sides but no angles are given. Only triangles with all sides, an angle and two sides, or a side and two angles given can be solved.
a=4 28
C b A
Because this triangle has an angle given, we can use the law of sines to solve it. a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C and subsitute: 4/sin28 = b/sin B = 6/C. Because we know nothing about b/sin B, lets start with 4/sin28 and use it to solve 6/sin C. Cross-multiply those ratios: 4*sin C = 6*sin 28, divide 4: sin C = (6*sin28)/4. 6*sin28=2.817. Divide that by four: 0.704. This means that sin C=0.704. Find the Csc of 0.704 . Csc0.704 =44.749. Angle C is about 44.749. Angle B is about 180-44.749-28=17.251. The last side is b. a/sinA = b/sinB, 4/sin28 = b/sin17.251, 4*sin17.251=sin28*b, (4*sin17.251)/sin28=b. b~2.53.
b=3.5
Start with the law of cosines because there are no angles given. a2=b2+c2-2bc cosA. Substitute values. 2.42=3.52+5.22-2(3.5)(5.2) cosA, 5.76-12.25-27.04=-2(3.5)(5.2) cos A, 33.53=36.4cosA, 33.53/36.4=cos A, 0.921=cos A, A=67.07. Now for B. b2=a2+c2-2ac cosB, (3.5)2=(2.4)2+(5.2)2-2(2.4)(5.2) cosB, 12.25=5.76+27.04-24.96 cos B. 12.25=5.76+27.04-24.96 cos B, 12.25-5.76-27.04=-24.96 cos B. 20.54/24.96=cos B. 0.823=cos B. B=34.61. C=180-34.61-67.07=78.32.
Trigonometric identities are ratios and relationships between certain trigonometric functions. In the following few slides, you will learn about different trigonometric identities that take place in each trigonometric function.
What is the sine of 60? 0.866. What is the cosine of 30? 0.866. If you look at the name of cosine, you can actually see that it is the cofunction of the sine (co-sine). The cotangent is the cofunction of the tangent (co-tangent), and the cosecant is the cofunction of the secant (co-secant).
Sine60=Cosine30 Secant60=Cosecant30
tangent30=cotangent60
The following trigonometric identities are useful to remember. Sin =1/csc Cos =1/sec (sin )2 + (cos )2=1 1+(tan )2=(sec )2 1+(cot )2=(csc )2
Tan =1/cot
Csc =1/sin Sec =1/cos Tan =1/cot
Degrees and pi radians are two methods of showing trigonometric info. To convert between them, use the following equation. 2 radians = 360 degrees 1 radians= 180 degrees
Convert 500 degrees into radians. 2 radians = 360 degrees, 1 degree = 1 radians/180, 500 degrees = radians/180 * 500 500 degrees = 25 radians/9
Write out the each of the trigonometric functions (sin, cos, and tan) of the following degrees to the hundredth place. (In degrees mode). Note: you do not have to do all of them
1. 45 2. 38
7. 90 8. 152
19. 75 20. 34
3. 22
4. 18 5. 95 6. 63
9. 112
10. 58 11. 345 12. 221
15. 123
16. 53 17. 41 18. 22
21. 53
22. 92 23. 153 24. 1000
B c 5
B 52 a A c A
C B 9
C
22
C B
13
20 A
c 8 C 12 A
18
B
22 12 A 25 C A B c A 8 c 28 b 31 a C
14
168 5 A C
35 24
15
C
Find each sine, cosecant, secant, and cotangent using different trigonometric identities to the hundredth place (dont just use a few identities, try all of them.).
1. 45 2. 38
7. 90 8. 152
19. 75 20. 34
3. 22
4. 18 5. 95 6. 63
9. 112
10. 58 11. 345 12. 221
15. 123
16. 53 17. 41 18. 22
21. 53
22. 92 23. 153 24. 1000
Convert to radians
34
52 35 46 74
15
36 37 94 53
156
174 376 324 163
272
532 631 856 428
994
732 897 1768 2000
Convert to degrees
3.2 rad 6.7 rad 3.14 rad 72.45 rad 52.652 rad
3.1 rad
7.9 rad
6.48 rad
93.16 rad
435.96 rad
1.3 rad
5.4 rad
8.23 rad
25.73 rad
14.995 rad
7.4 rad
9.6 rad
5.25 rad
79.23 rad
745.153 rad
Eric Zhao